A Good Sign

When I first got my roommates' contact information, my initial impression was "Wow, they're really different than me." It was more of a neutral reaction, almost as if I immediately accepted it. But now, looking back on the first impressions and first Facebook-viewing, I'm sure each of us had similar thoughts. I'm not like them in many ways, they're not like me, and they are not alike themselves. Don't worry, we do have a few things in common. All is good. I'm just saying I've now moved from "they're different from me" to "we're different from each other." I think this is positive.

My (Former) Role Model

If only she liked reading. 

If only she had more friends.

If only she liked to write.

If only she had a cat or small pet.

If only she was in better shape.

But no, stuck inside watching TV.

I hope there's more to her life now that I don't know. 

One of the people in my life who worries me.

Santa Monica Excursion

Yesterday some new friends, temporary friends, and I went to Santa Monica together. I couldn't remember the last time I'd stood in the ocean in the middle of the night. The water wasn't even too cold. We saw weird things, out-of-the-ordinary people, and ate good, inexpensive food. I didn't even warn my roommates I'd be back late, because I didn't know we would be. We walked all around to see what we could explore. I returned to my dorm at 1:20 am. And I want to do it again. 

I feel like I could have turned the experience into a much more thoughtful blog post but this will suffice for now. Happy Sunday, go read Post Secret.

Adorable!

New pet? Haha. Seriously, how cute is this photo?

Quotable Friday's Post

If you want to go fast, go alone. 

If you want to go far, go together.

-African proverb

Sorry, but I am!

Is this offensive? Because I was amused.

Good morning! (From LA)

Well, I'm here. I moved in yesterday and I'm somewhat settled in. Today is the first morning I've waken up here in my dorm room. Most people would focus on the first night, but I choose morning because it's the beginning of a clean slate and new emotions for the day. I have to get used to the hectic movement of the dining hall situation and everywhere in public places. This is a fast-moving, lively place. I have two roommates: Alexa and Jennifer. We're sharing a small room but I am trying to make it feel like a new home for me. I'm really happy with how my portions of the room look now. 

People seemed friendlier at orientation. Maybe that was just due to the stress of yesterday. Now, everyone is moved in so hopefully I'll get to know more people. High up on the eighth floor, people look so small from my window. We just have to get on the same level now (no pun intended). It's weird because there are so many people, it's impossible to get to know everyone. There would never be enough time, so I find myself wondering what the point of an introduction is when you're only going to be sitting by someone for awhile or stand in line with them for ten minutes. I'm beginning to realize those temporary, fleeting moments of companionship from strangers are comforting and essential to feeling like you belong. 

Thank you, everyone, for wishing me luck and telling me that you'll miss me. It means a lot.

Quotable Friday's Post

The future comes one day at a time.

-Dean Acheson

Tomorrow will be one of those days for me.

I wonder if Rei still reads my blog.

I stole this from hers. :)

Find lots more here at her blog.

Update: Good news!

Not only did I finish through "Q," I finished all the "R" files as well and begun to alphabetize "S" too. Today's goal: Finish S, T, U, and V.

I like blogging early in the morning, but I have to go.

A Real Job and Three Days

I have a real job now. Well, it's not quite real because it's only temporary, but I am actually working for money! It's shocking, I know, since mainly I've worked for just my own personal satisfaction of a job well done (read: VOLUNTEER). Haha.

I'm helping out in the HR Department at Natividad Hospital...which in essence consists of filing all day long. I'm already running out of nice office outfits to wear, which is a little depressing, although I'm enjoying the challenge of trying to dress professionally. I have a thirty minute lunch break and I've already worked out a system of getting things done. In the mornings, I have helped this woman in the Employee Health office, which was simple. I just pulled charts from the infinite expanse of file cabinets and wrote down dates and numbers. I also filed for her. In the afternoons, I've been filing in the HR office downstairs. Employee files. I got through letters of last names A through F yesterday, and today I just began M! I hope to be on Q by the end of tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Meanwhile, the countdown to college continues. Three more days of work, three more days at home, and just three days left to pack. Wow, it's more real now. 

This post may be slightly mudane, so I'm sorry. Hopefully this will make it more exciting:

(Spreckels)

Boundaries

I can't escape this trap. I'm stuck inside this confining box they've put me in. And let me tell you, it's hard to live in here. Maybe the walls will dissolve in Los Angeles.

Hello out there

I am really curious about the readers of this blog. Sometimes I think that just my best friends read and I keep posting for my sake only. And for that of my lovely boyfriend. However, every once in awhile, someone will tell me that they've read my blog before and it's always a pleasant surprise. I used to think it was a bit self-centered to keep a blog, to be so arrogant as to assume that there are actually people who care about what you want to say on the Internet. I don't think that way so much anymore, however, because I thoroughly enjoy reading others' blogs. They are a form of entertainment for me, and I hope my blog has served that purpose to a few people, too. That's all I can hope. So, if you want to let me know that you read this, you can leave a comment below. Please? :) And I will post more entertaining things for you. Thanks! 

Quotable Friday's Post

"If you aren’t in over your head, 

how do you know how tall you are?"

Stereotype of the First Year

I'll admit it. I fit the stereotype of the college freshman with jumbled emotions going into her first year. I'm excited, a little nostalgic, hopeful, and scared. Yes, scared. I am slightly worried about things such as...finals. My first college paper. The adjustment in general. My citation skills. 

Haha.

In all seriousness, there was this one encounter on campus that put the worry back in my mind after the initial excitement hit me. While at orientation one day, some of the other first-years and I were hanging out in the lounge outside the computer lab. We were acting like such freshmen, which is okay, because we are. We were talking excitedly about classes and the interesting ones we wanted to take and how clever we were for getting our schedules lined up. There was an upperclassmen sitting there listening to us who interjected, "You guys are freshmen, right?" It wasn't condescending the way he said it, but we could tell something had led him to that conclusion (besides our painfully distinguishing drawstring backpacks). "How did you know?" we asked. "Because," he replied, "you all are happy about your classes. I just got back from class and I want to shoot myself." While I didn't take this as a genuine suicide threat or anything, he said it pretty seriously. I just don't want to dread the academics (or any aspect of college) for that matter as much as he seemed to. That's why we are there.

I know I haven't started classes yet or even moved in, but I still am heavily anticipating this first quarter and this first year. Heck, I'm anticipating the first day. I've started to have dreams about move-in day, those telltale dreams which signify my inner hopes and fears, the dreams at night that signal to me what is on my subconscious mind the most right now. I hope I wake up from it all knowing I am in the same position as all of my peers, with the competency to deal with the new kind of challenges I will have. It's all I have. And I will enjoy this and never forget.

If you are

When your mood changes so much, you learn the right thing to do. The action that yields the best results. I have experience to back me up, but don't just rely on my advice. :)

If you're happy, believe in it! Speak with conviction and have faith in yourself.

If you're angry, doubt yourself. Be cautious and wary about this passing emotion.

If you're truly sad, cry.

 

If you're overwhelmed, write.

Article for Thought

Copy.

Paste.

Load.

Read.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/sex/the-movie-virgin-why-boys-do-it-better-2388301/;_ylt=AhRhE.xeUh8FMmjkpTdNSXmBbqU5

Choose

I can write about whatever I want. I have decided that if it's not worth it, I don't need to remember it. I can become whoever I want to be. I may not be able to do whatever I want right now, but I can think about whatever I choose. You need to be happy regardless of all the others, which is so hard. I'm almost there. I feel permanent, despite all the uncertainty in my life. And good for you, if you choose to be who you want.

Our List

A few months ago, before summer officially began, Sean and I compiled a list of things we wanted to do this summer. It was a long list. We set a lot of goals because we wanted to have a great summer. Now, despite the fact we haven't finished everything, we still had such a fun summer. I am determined to get most of these checked off before I leave to school and our summer officially ends. We only have a few more days left.

1. Beach 
2. Creative vandalism
3. Camping
4. Visit the Monterey Museum of Art
5. Go swimming
6. Jacuzzi
7. Go to the telephone booth near Abbott Street
8. Teach Sara how to skateboard
9. Surf
10. Teach Sara how to drive stick-shift
11. Take black and white pictures
12. Play ping pong
13. Go to drive-in movie theater
14. Go to a party
15. Play mini golf
16. Cook together
17. Art
18. Go to the aquarium
19. Hang out in Santa Cruz
20. Hang out in Toro Park (caves)
21. Ride bikes
22. Fourth of July REVENGE
23. Double date(s)
24. Get lost
25. Go to a library
26. Language learning
27. Volunteer/ community service
28. Movie marathon
29. Picnic
30. Harry Potter movie marathon
31. Hang out in San Francisco

Some of the things that aren't crossed off yet are gradual. While I am not fluent in a third language [yet] or trustworthy to drive Sean's car alone, we have worked on these things. And, of course, we have watched lots of movies together, but not consecutively. We're not perfect, but we will try our best. :)

Waking Up

We're swimming, surrounded by the vast ocean.

There's a huge ship protruding from the rock.

We scramble onto the cliff and enter the ship.

Everything's different but the water is calm.

It's soothing there with you above the water.

Eventually, we know we must return.

Then they're angry. She's really mad. 

I'm telling the truth but lying by omission.

That only frustrates her.

I feel trapped and it's a sinking feeling.

Then, I wake up with my eyes still shut.

I hear someone in my room, and without looking, I know who it is.

It's her.